can see every single one of
us. Not one of us can hide from their sneering, leering eyes. Hani
is at the end of the line, determinedly staring at the red marble
tiles.
I am about to flick my eyes to the Emperor when the
silver doors at the side of the Great Hall fly open.
Young men begin to file into the ring. Like us, the
guys are nearly naked. They are wearing nothing but white loin
cloths and metal collars. Some of them glance in our direction, and
there is abject terror in some of their eyes.
The guys cluster in two groups on opposite sides of the
ring, and I scan their faces, reading their hopelessness and hunger.
One of the men tilts his head to meet my eyes, and I gasp.
Owen stares straight at me, his eyes slowly moving down
my naked body under that transparent, gossamer dress.
I drop my gaze quickly but I can still feel his eyes on
me.
The silver side doors and the golden door behind me
whisper shut. A hush falls across the Great Hall, and I have to stop
trying to inch my way backwards. The girls are deadly still, their
eyes lowered. I suspect no one is even breathing.
The reflection in the polished marble floor allows me to
see the movements in the Great Hall without looking up.
I see the Emperor rise from his seat and raise his
glass. Swirling that dark red liquid around the crystal glass, he
addresses his guests. “And now, I present to you the highlight
of our Midnight Feast. These Sirens and Slaves have been specially
picked for your entertainment and enjoyment. This is to reward you,
all of you, my esteemed and most trusted Generals, for your
commendable achievements. Under your command, our armies have
conquered many, many territories, and will conquer many, many more.”
He gestures down the long table at his smirking guests. “With
you at the helm, resistance is futile.” The Generals all laugh
and nod as the Emperor raises his glass to his lips and drains it.
“I have to admit though...” He sways slightly as he puts
down the empty glass. “The resistance is getting a tad
annoying. I hear there's been some uprisings in the outlying
territories. They should be crushed, brutally and bloodily. Once
and for all.”
The Generals grunt and mutter, making their assent
heard.
“ There is bloody work to be done, in the day. But
for tonight, we play!” the Emperor roars.
There is much clinking of glasses and stomping of boots
as the Generals raise their voices and glasses to the Emperor. The
Empress doesn't join in. She sits through the whole charade
unmoving, with just a hint of a smile on her lips.
When everyone has downed their wine and settled down,
the Empress leans forward. “Hmph.”
With that one utterance from the Empress, all chatter
ceases. Everyone seems to stiffen to attention, even the Emperor.
Pretending not to notice the tensed silence that has descended, the
Empress rests her chin in her palm and smiles indulgently. “Shall
we begin?”
All eyes are on the Empress.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I lift my head a
little to sneak a peek at her. Seeing her seated beside the Emperor,
I am struck by the contrast between them. While the Emperor has
light orange hair with narrow features, the Empress's hair and eyes
are dark as night. Her lips are painted a deep, midnight blue. Even
though she remains seated, she seems to loom over the Emperor,
overwhelming and overshadowing him. Her thick, black hair is
intricately fashioned into a series of twisting knots and buns on her
head. Jewels hang ponderously from her ears and neck, like ripe
fruit from a tree. Her heavy necklace drops into her deep cleavage
hiding the jewel at the tip of that thick band of gold.
The Emperor turns to her with a deep, fawning bow.
“Would you like to choose, my dear...” The term of
endearment sounds forced, not warm and affectionate.
She fingers the swell of her bosom with a painted nail.
“Let General Day and General Link choose, since they have so
successfully and thoroughly crushed our
us. Not one of us can hide from their sneering, leering eyes. Hani
is at the end of the line, determinedly staring at the red marble
tiles.
I am about to flick my eyes to the Emperor when the
silver doors at the side of the Great Hall fly open.
Young men begin to file into the ring. Like us, the
guys are nearly naked. They are wearing nothing but white loin
cloths and metal collars. Some of them glance in our direction, and
there is abject terror in some of their eyes.
The guys cluster in two groups on opposite sides of the
ring, and I scan their faces, reading their hopelessness and hunger.
One of the men tilts his head to meet my eyes, and I gasp.
Owen stares straight at me, his eyes slowly moving down
my naked body under that transparent, gossamer dress.
I drop my gaze quickly but I can still feel his eyes on
me.
The silver side doors and the golden door behind me
whisper shut. A hush falls across the Great Hall, and I have to stop
trying to inch my way backwards. The girls are deadly still, their
eyes lowered. I suspect no one is even breathing.
The reflection in the polished marble floor allows me to
see the movements in the Great Hall without looking up.
I see the Emperor rise from his seat and raise his
glass. Swirling that dark red liquid around the crystal glass, he
addresses his guests. “And now, I present to you the highlight
of our Midnight Feast. These Sirens and Slaves have been specially
picked for your entertainment and enjoyment. This is to reward you,
all of you, my esteemed and most trusted Generals, for your
commendable achievements. Under your command, our armies have
conquered many, many territories, and will conquer many, many more.”
He gestures down the long table at his smirking guests. “With
you at the helm, resistance is futile.” The Generals all laugh
and nod as the Emperor raises his glass to his lips and drains it.
“I have to admit though...” He sways slightly as he puts
down the empty glass. “The resistance is getting a tad
annoying. I hear there's been some uprisings in the outlying
territories. They should be crushed, brutally and bloodily. Once
and for all.”
The Generals grunt and mutter, making their assent
heard.
“ There is bloody work to be done, in the day. But
for tonight, we play!” the Emperor roars.
There is much clinking of glasses and stomping of boots
as the Generals raise their voices and glasses to the Emperor. The
Empress doesn't join in. She sits through the whole charade
unmoving, with just a hint of a smile on her lips.
When everyone has downed their wine and settled down,
the Empress leans forward. “Hmph.”
With that one utterance from the Empress, all chatter
ceases. Everyone seems to stiffen to attention, even the Emperor.
Pretending not to notice the tensed silence that has descended, the
Empress rests her chin in her palm and smiles indulgently. “Shall
we begin?”
All eyes are on the Empress.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I lift my head a
little to sneak a peek at her. Seeing her seated beside the Emperor,
I am struck by the contrast between them. While the Emperor has
light orange hair with narrow features, the Empress's hair and eyes
are dark as night. Her lips are painted a deep, midnight blue. Even
though she remains seated, she seems to loom over the Emperor,
overwhelming and overshadowing him. Her thick, black hair is
intricately fashioned into a series of twisting knots and buns on her
head. Jewels hang ponderously from her ears and neck, like ripe
fruit from a tree. Her heavy necklace drops into her deep cleavage
hiding the jewel at the tip of that thick band of gold.
The Emperor turns to her with a deep, fawning bow.
“Would you like to choose, my dear...” The term of
endearment sounds forced, not warm and affectionate.
She fingers the swell of her bosom with a painted nail.
“Let General Day and General Link choose, since they have so
successfully and thoroughly crushed our
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